Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-21
A STORY OF 1875.
A Continental Prisoners Sudden
Disappearance.

sat five men, four Of whom wert
seated around an old oaken table ir
the center of the room, engaged in
playing cards, while they frequently
moistened their throats from an
earthen Jug that stood in on the table
They were heavy-bearded, coarse.
looking men, and, from their dress
which somewhat resembled the Brit
! ish uniform, thew were evidently Tor
les. Tie othef vas stout-built
young man, clad in the Continental
uniform. He sat in one corner OF the
room with his face buried in his
hands.
"rom," said one of the Tories, ris-
ing from the table and seating him.
self near the young prisoner, for such
he evidently was, "Tom, you and
were schoolmates together, and | love
you yet. Now, why cent you give up
your wild notions and join us? You
are our prisoner, and if you don't we
shall hand you over to headquarters
tomorrow while, if you join us, your
fortune is made; for, with your
bravery and talents, you will soon
distinguish yourself in the Royal
Army; and, after the rebellion is
crushed out, your course shall be re-
warded by knighthood and promo
ton in the army. Now, there are
two alternatives; which do YOU
choose 2"
Neither" said the young man,
raising his cad and looking the Tory
steadily in the eye.
"I am now, as you say, your pris-
oner, but when the clock st. likes IL |
shall disappear in cloud OF fire and
smoke, and neither you nor your CON-
rades, nor even myself can prevent it.
You may watch me as closely as yorl
please, tie me hand and foot # you
will, but higher power than yours or
mine has ordained that l shall leave
you at that time"
''Poor fellow, his mind wanders," "
said the Tory; "he'll talk differently
in the morning." and he returned to
his seat at the table, leaving the youth
with his head again resting on his
hands.
When the clock struck II the young
prisoner drew a pipe and some tobacco
from his pocket and asked the Tory
leader if he had any objection to his
smoking. "None in the least" he
said, adding with laugh, "that is, il
YOU will promise not to disappear in a
cloud of tobacco smoke"
The young man made no reply, but
Immediately filled his pipe, having
done which he commenced pacing the
floor. 4.saa4
He took half dozen turns up and
down each side OF the room, approach
ing nearer the table each time, when,
having exhausted his pipe, he returned
to his seat and refilled it. a..
He continued to smoke until the
clock struck II, when he arose from
his seat, and, slowly knocking the
ashes out of his pipe, said:
"There, boys, it is IL o'clock, and
must leave you. Good-by !"
Immediately all around the room
were seen streaks of fire Kissing and
squirming; the cabin was filed with
dense, sulphurous smoke, amidst
which was heard clap of thunder
The Tories sat in tn ,ir chairs par
alyzed " ilh fright.
The smoke cleared away, but the
prisoner was nowhere to be seen. The
tables were overturned, the windows
smashed to pieces and one chair was
lying on the ground outside the
building.
The Tory leader, after recovering
from his stupor, gave one glance
around the room and sprang out of
the window. followed by his COM
rades. They ran through the forest
at the top of their spec in the direc-
tion of the British encampment,
leaving their mu-kets and other arms
to the mercy of the flames, which had
now begun to devour the cabin.
The next day two men dressed in
Continental uniforms were seen stand
ing near the ruins of the old cabin.
One was our prisoner of the night
previous. "I.et us hear all about it,
Tom" said the other.
"Well," said he, "last evening as l
was passing this place two Tories ran
out Of the cabin and t ok possession
of me. Before l could make any re-
sistance they took me in, and who do
you suppose 1 saw as leader of the
party but John Barton, our old school
mate? He talked with me and tried
to get me to join them, but | told him
couldn't do it; that at II O'Clock l
was going to escape, disappear in a
cloud of fire and smoke, but he
laughed at me, and told me I was out
of my head. About IL o'clock l
asked him if. 1 mi sht smoke. He
said he had no objection. 80
l filled my pipe and lighted it
and commenced walking the floor. l
had about a pound Of gunpowder in
my pocket, and as 1 walked I strewed
it all over the floor. When the clock
struck IL bade them goodbye and
told them l had to go; and then,
knocking the ashes out of my pipe,
the powder ignited and dazzling
fame of fire shot across, around and
all over the room, filling it with suffo-
eating smoke. Before It cleared away
hurled chair through the window,
sprang out and departed, leaving them
to their own reflections. You know
the rest. ."-[ Boston Traveller.
A HiRh Neck Winter.